Comfort dogs flock to Orlando to give love and support to survivors and their families

It’s no secret that a short hug or cuddle with a dog has amazing healing powers, and no one is more in need of that comfort right now than the people of Orlando. That’s why an organization that provides just that — canine love and comfort — headed there almost as soon as they heard the news.

In the days following the mass shooting, comfort dogs from all over the country, including those from The Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dogs, flew to the distressed city to give a little love to survivors and others affected.

These trained dogs bring a calming influence in the middle of chaos, and sometimes just sitting down and petting one has an amazing ability to clear the mind and calm the soul. It’s a small start on the road to recovery, but it’s a big deal to those aching for comfort during what might be the hardest time in their lives.

During their time in Orlando, the dogs will mostly visit hospitals and churches, doing what they can to bring much-needed smiles to those hurt and in mourning. According to their website, they are working through Trinity Lutheran Church in downtown Orlando. The church has a ministry of outreach to the LGBT community in the Orlando area, which means they have ties to some of those with the biggest need right now.

This isn’t the first time these dogs have been sent to circumstances such as this. This same organization was deployed to help out after the tragedy at Sandy Hook in 2012, the Oregon college shooting in 2015, the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013 and many other tragedies and natural disasters.